Ray- You are a true master of modeling!!!
-Kevin.
Thanks guys!
The best, as always, Ray. You did lettering right. I know decals can look great, but on old-time structures, IMHO, only stencils and paint look really authentic. Speaking of authenticity, one of my private gripes (not aired on line) is that, thanks to MS Word etc, folks just run willy-nilly (or Willie Nelson, as I say) through fonts and use styles that didn’t exist a hundred years ago, or render them in a manner that wasn’t common practice. I mean, every factory didn’t have a big-ass sign on it, proclaiming that it was International Widget Works. Signage was more subtle, back then. On our morning walk I noticed a sign for public restrooms, which was probably painted 70 or more years ago. I’ll take an iPhone snap and put it up so you guys can see what I mean. Meanwhile, RD, you da man!
Thanks! i know what you mean about signage not always matching the design and font styles seen on period signs.
Part of the problem is that it’s hard to find appropriate fonts even when you know at least something about it. I must confess that I fudged the bank sign, using a font that is too modern. Most folks won’t know the difference, but does bug me a little.
Agreed Ray, You do some awesome work.
Nick
Ray and all, here’s that old style font. At least that’s my guess. The pointing hand is so typical of that era.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/joerusz915/Old%20style%20font%20(1%20of%201).jpg)
.jpg){kind=link}
One more oldie. This one is for sure from the 1940s. Sorry about the quality, but this is just a part of a larger photo that I’ve cropped for the sign. Plus it’s a copy of a print that I shot from a wall hanging, full of reflections like the photographer who was wearing a white Hawaiian shirt when he tried to copy the original. Even Photoshop couldn’t save it, but at least ya get the idea. Old style, right?
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/joerusz915/Old%20sign%20(1%20of%201).jpg)
.jpg){kind=link}
I found a lot of prototype photos of old hand-painted signs by searching Google images using terms like “ghost sign”, “signs on walls” etc. Also found many vintage images on Shorpy.
Unfortunately there aren’t many digital fonts that resemble the old styles, at least not for free. And drawing them by hand is not my favorite way to spend modeling time, so sometimes I cheat and make do with what I have. 
I too have gotten some great ideas from Shorpy.
But fonts are hard to come by.
Ray Dunakin said:
Unfortunately there aren’t many digital fonts that resemble the old styles, at least not for free. And drawing them by hand is not my favorite way to spend modeling time, so sometimes I cheat and make do with what I have.
Aaaww…come on Ray …Do what you do and no cheating!
Mailpouch Chew was a big one in central PA
Bump to the top.
I’ve got thousands of fonts, including some old RR fonts.
Unfortunately, they’re not on this computer.
This means I’ve got a half dozen computers and a couple dozen Hard Drives to search 
Ralph
I think maybe I sent Jon Radder a copy. He’s much better organized than I am
Boomer,
I’ll get with Jon and see if he can easily find the file.
If not, it’s going to take me some time to locate it.
I was really quite surprised to find out I hadn’t installed the fonts on this computer.
Ralph
Ray D…That’s Fantastic. Tk’s for posting. Great ideas.
Ray, I hope that you are monitoring this thread again, I bumped it back to the top to find easily and to be able to get your input on a couple of things.
On my third attempt, I’ve finally got the cut stones to look right, at least usable, I’ve made 1/2 blocks, and 1/2 high stones, I even made a couple of extra long ones for lentils over windows. Now i see your making some more for your new building, Mostly arched ones, are the cast ones difficult to cut down or have you just settled on a given arch, and will stick to them?
Did you stipple on the texture after you glued them down for molding?
Dave Taylor said:
On my third attempt, I’ve finally got the cut stones to look right, at least usable, I’ve made 1/2 blocks, and 1/2 high stones, I even made a couple of extra long ones for lentils over windows. Now i see your making some more for your new building, Mostly arched ones, are the cast ones difficult to cut down or have you just settled on a given arch, and will stick to them?
Did you stipple on the texture after you glued them down for molding?
The resin blocks can be cut and shaped to fit, which is what I did for the arches of this building. But it’s not quite as easy, and gets to be a pain for sharper curves, such as the vents at the top. So after I made this building, I decided to make some stones pre-shaped for a variety of arches, which can be used as-is or modified slightly if necessary.
I stippled the putty onto the blocks before gluing them down to make the mold. It could be done after gluing but clean up might be trickier.
I’m making some without stippling for another building. I’m curious to see how good they look without it.
Ralph Berg said:
I’ve got thousands of fonts, including some old RR fonts.
Unfortunately, they’re not on this computer.
This means I’ve got a half dozen computers and a couple dozen Hard Drives to search
RalphI think maybe I sent Jon Radder a copy. He’s much better organized than I am
You did, and I’m pretty sure the CD is within 3 feet of this computer, but so is several thousand sheets of paper, 30 or 40 books and a pile of assorted other junk. Would you like me to look for it?